Alright Guys, Getting an MP3 Player Tommorow, what to get? [Archive]

neubspeed

10-01-2005, 04:30 PM

I have 18gb of music (most of it ripped from cds that I bought thank you very much you RIAA bastards that are trying to stop ripping) on my U2 ipod which I've had since last christmas, its scratched to shit but functionally its just as good as the first day. I've dropped this thing on the bus, had it knocked into lockers, etc, etc, and it's still running great. The nano is great (and very sexy) if you don't have a lot of music. One thing though, do not buy a nano without a clear nano tube because my friend's nano looks my scratched than my U2 iPod and he's had his for a week.

skudmunky

10-01-2005, 05:34 PM

yeah, the nanos scratch insanely easily. just google nano scratches and you'll get an insane amount of hits, Cnet and THG and a bunch of other places even ran stories on it.

If you don't really care about the scratching get the Nano, but I'd go for the normal ipod out of all those choices.

FaRKle0079

10-01-2005, 10:02 PM

Cowon iAudio X5. Better than any ipod and iriver (except H1xx series.)

XtuRmN8r

10-01-2005, 10:05 PM

ColStripe

10-01-2005, 10:52 PM

I second the vote for an iAudio X5. Better SQ, more features, format support and cheaper than an equivalent iPod. iPods are way overpriced for what you get imo.

SilverMK3

10-02-2005, 12:06 AM

Say no to the Pods! :p

I've got an iRiver h320 (20GB) and an iFP-799 (1GB) and have come across more than a few iPod owners who regret their purchases after seeing my players. The iRivers do so much more at approximately the same price as the iPods, and they come with all of the accessories you need.

Apple's strategy with the entire iPod lineup has been to copy an existing product that is already successful in the market, strip out all but the bare essential features, apply some glossy white plastic, market the f*ck out of it, and then sell it for slightly more than the other players (*excluding the accessories*).

Here are some features on the iRivers that stand out:
- direct ripping to mp3 from the line-in, built-in mic, or FM tuner. (upto 320kbps CBR or VBR)
- shows up as "USB Mass Storage Device" when you plug it in, so you can drag & drop files and playlists using Windows Explorer.
- preserves your existing directory structure and filenames on the player
- can play mp3, wma, and ogg files (with & without DRM)
- higher quality displays
- they look a hell of a lot nicer

HighwayAssassins

10-02-2005, 12:22 AM

ipod hands down

buzzard34

10-02-2005, 02:07 AM

I like my Creative Nomad Zen Xtra. you save about 75 bucks on a comparable Ipod, you can replace its battery with utmost ease, and you get a product from a company who has been know for computer audio for at least 10 years. But, if you want to get an ipod, they work, and they're sexy looking.
I have the same thing, its great. Some of the newer Zens out there definitely could give the iPod a run for the money.

TechHead

10-02-2005, 03:07 AM

iRiver! Love my h140!

xonik

10-02-2005, 03:12 AM

iPod 30 GB if you need the space, otherwise nano 4 GB. They've sold me on their interface and ergonomics. To me, usability is the number one priority, followed by sound quality, aesthetics, and size. Yes, even complex individuals like myself are relieved by a simple and natural interface like in the iPod.

BillLeeLee

10-02-2005, 03:19 AM

Manuelj43

10-02-2005, 03:34 AM

Get the 200 gb ipod Nano...

http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Ipod_Nano_200gb_Instructions

lmao.

Otherwise, Creative it up. I've got the N200, and I use it for recording class lectures too. Does the job, music sounds great, 1 gb of space is plenty for music, small, and battery life is excellent.

Also known as the Zen Micro.

1c3d0g

10-02-2005, 03:51 AM

http://www.mobibluamerica.com/

Thank me later. ;)

AMD T-type

10-02-2005, 11:11 PM

wake6830

10-03-2005, 12:56 AM

I own an ipod mini, and if i found myself in your situation, i would seriously consider the creatives.

sniper991122

10-03-2005, 01:02 AM

when i worked for best buy over the summer as a tech, we would on average get about 2-3 ipods a day in for service, whether the battery, the HDD, or whatever

complete crap

I'd get an iRiver if it were me

more people own ipods than irivers, so of course the number of ipods you get will be higher :)

now if were talking about percentages of mp3 players that screw up, and there was a clear percent of ipods that broke vs. other mp3 players.. that'd be a different case...

having said that, they did have that class action lawsuit on 1st or 2nd gen ipods?

having said that and having done many reviews, I still went with the 60 gig color ipod (being the audiophile) to go along with my er-4ps... yes I did know about the iaudio x5 and still went with the ipod..

molson3530

10-03-2005, 01:08 AM

I have a 30GB iPod Photo and love it. No problems whatsoever, I believe that it is one of the best purchases I have made.
http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/591.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=591)

ColStripe

10-03-2005, 01:41 AM

more people own ipods than irivers, so of course the number of ipods you get will be higher :)

now if were talking about percentages of mp3 players that screw up, and there was a clear percent of ipods that broke vs. other mp3 players.. that'd be a different case...

having said that, they did have that class action lawsuit on 1st or 2nd gen ipods?

having said that and having done many reviews, I still went with the 60 gig color ipod (being the audiophile) to go along with my er-4ps... yes I did know about the iaudio x5 and still went with the ipod..

Sorry, if you were an "audiophile" and you listened to some of the competition, you wouldn't have gotten an iPod. Don't pat yourself on the back too hard.

Svperstar

10-03-2005, 04:05 AM

Don't get an Ipod. It has a bad reputation for sound quality.

However if you just have to be trendy by all means buy it and feel like you really belong to the white headphone brotherhood.

CantAimWhenDrunk

10-03-2005, 04:16 AM

I picked myself up a Rio Carbon and couldn't be happier.

If you are looking in the micro-drive segment (5-6 gigs), this player is tough to beat.

Best of all, Best Buy has them on clearance for $170.00

saturnine2

10-03-2005, 09:02 AM

Dude, get the Dell DJ it pwns the Ipod. ;)

Has slightly better sq, cheaper, and the interface is easier IMO. Only problem is that it doesent have a line out unless you use the $30 Dell desk cradle..

xonik

10-03-2005, 09:46 AM

Don't get an Ipod. It has a bad reputation for sound quality.Objective testing (http://stereophile.com/mediaservers/934/index5.html) shows otherwise, and the funny thing about that comment is that it's never backed up with any substance. I don't care if another player is better, but give me something better than reputation.

skudmunky

10-03-2005, 11:46 AM

Dude, get the Dell DJ it pwns the Ipod. ;)

Has slightly better sq, cheaper, and the interface is easier IMO. Only problem is that it doesent have a line out unless you use the $30 Dell desk cradle..

and the Creative Zen Micro Owns both of them. Easiest interface ever. I love it.

Kevin Lowe

10-03-2005, 01:04 PM

Another iPod vote. I love mine. Buy different headphones though; the white buds may be trendy, but they still sound like average buds.

tesfaye

10-03-2005, 01:05 PM

I've owned a second gen, third gen, shuffle and the nano. I haven't run into any problems with those units. The Nano sound quality is better than my third gen 20gig ipod. I would have passed on the Nano but I got it as a birthday gift. I experience no weird behavior while playing Apple Lossless files either. I run into this problem with my 3g iPod. As far as scratching goes, I don't think it scratches up any faster than the regular iPods if you constantly carry it in your pocket with change and other debris in it. Goooo iPod! :)

freddiepm61

10-03-2005, 01:31 PM

on lots of ipod problems, it is going to happen more than others, as there are so many more than ipods sold than any other. probably just as ,any problems with others, just less of those players out there.
the ipod is good, as it is small, easy to read screen, and if you have lots of mp3, the scroll wheel is the easiest way hands down to move through them.
get an ipod.
moreover, they are almost selling them at a loss now, so as to agresively push outhers out of the ,market.
get a 20gb ipod photo (standard system) only slightly more expensive than the nano, but holds 5 times as much, is tiny anyway and has a nice big screen.
2 cents
f

zachary80

10-03-2005, 04:09 PM

Sorry, if you were an "audiophile" and you listened to some of the competition, you wouldn't have gotten an iPod. Don't pat yourself on the back too hard.

No.

I whole-heartedly disagree with you

benzino_86

10-03-2005, 04:25 PM

Rio Karma 20 gig. Have gone down in price (>$200) and is the best that i have ever used. Don't listen to that crap about bad drives, because that was a while ago and that problem has been fixed. My suggestion is to update the firmware immediately so there aren't any problems with freezing.
Rio Karma > all.

Frangible

10-03-2005, 06:20 PM

I would get the Nano and a very good case for it. Heh. I hate iTunes but the scroll wheel interface is nice. Too bad the Nano doesn't have better build quality and materials, though.

unhappy_mage

10-03-2005, 06:22 PM

Sorry, if you were an "audiophile" and you listened to some of the competition, you wouldn't have gotten an iPod. Don't pat yourself on the back too hard.
As others have said, I had heard of the iPod's reputation as being good rather than bad. I don't have one, but everything I'd heard about them was positive.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072 (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=150072&tm=33)

tesfaye

10-03-2005, 07:57 PM

I would get the Nano and a very good case for it. Heh. I hate iTunes but the scroll wheel interface is nice. Too bad the Nano doesn't have better build quality and materials, though.

I'm looking at my Nano and I fail to see where the build quality is any different. These ipods are carried around differently than the others. All of my iPods came with cases except for the shuffle and Nano. I don't see many people cramming 1-4G iPods in thier pockets. I bet if people carried those in thier pockets they would be bitching about scratches on thier screens and cases. The metal casing scratches up pretty easily on the large iPods. It's a shame that they released the Nano without the protective cases being readily available. I can't wait until they boost the storage on the Nano, I'll be first in line to upgrade. That is if none of the other manufacturers can do better.

1c3d0g

10-03-2005, 09:53 PM

Fuck the iPod. Unless you want to be "cool". Get anything other than that so-called music player. ;)

xonik

10-03-2005, 11:52 PM

What's more conformist, buying an iPod or posting here and hating on them?

SilverMK3

10-04-2005, 12:13 AM

What's more conformist, buying an iPod or posting here and hating on them?

Well, lets look at the numbers:
X million yuppies > handful of tech geeks at a computer hardware site

I think the yuppies have the conformity vote. :rolleyes: We should expect more from [H] members.

serbiaNem

10-04-2005, 12:22 AM

Went through two ipods with bad parts already, but I still love em to death.

Nothing seems as easy to use..

TechHead

10-04-2005, 02:51 AM

Get your iRiver fixed TechHead? I remember you had that format problem a week ago.

I like iRiver'x H1x0 series as well, I have a 120. However, they've been discontinued, so I don't know about the new ones.
Nope :(. No way to format the HDD until my hardware guy gets a laptop with a 1.8" HDD. There are *no* 1.8" HDD adapters or enclosures in Bombay :eek:

Anyway OP, which player did you get?

NulloModo

10-04-2005, 06:53 AM

Wow, that iAudio X5L is pretty sweet, 30 gig HD, support for all the major formats, looks nice, and 35 hours of battery life?

Anyone here have one of those? The price is kinda high, but I might just take the jump on that thing, depending on if you can just drag and drop files to play into it or if you have to actually use some BS software to do it...

The iRiver units looks sorta decent to, but I could never buy one just because the company has such a goofy ass name.

LunchboX3904

10-04-2005, 01:08 PM

to play MP3's on the iAudio, you can drag and drop...but for video formats you have to use the software that comes with it to convert your movies into a file format that it can read and that fits it's screen. if you're really curious how it looks, you can download that program and it will convert 30 seconds of any movie as a sample.

i believe this is it. http://eng.iaudio.com/jetaudio/JAD6_BASIC.exe

I was also gonna get the X5, but i wanted something smaller, cheaper, and lighterweight that could still play videos if needed. So i'm seriously now considering this little beauty. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16855117120

I know it's only got 1gb of space BUT i also used the conversion software to test it out and it converted a full 385mb TopGear episode down to 144mb, and didn't look half bad.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/1987.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=1987)

NulloModo

10-04-2005, 01:51 PM

The Samsung sounds cool, but the X5L looks like it is pretty tiny anyway, 4.0x2.5x.75 inch is smaller than a pack of smokes, so no big deal for carrying it around.

Jodiuh

10-04-2005, 05:16 PM

I had a samsung mt6-z and could hear a clicking noise during light tunes. For example, a modern classical album such as Vanessa Mai's "Storm" became intolerable for me. The headphones at the time were Shure e3c. I had returned it only to find out the new one had this flaw as well. Later, I would come across a samsung "fansite" that had others complaining about the noise as well.

sniper991122

10-04-2005, 07:41 PM

Sorry, if you were an "audiophile" and you listened to some of the competition, you wouldn't have gotten an iPod. Don't pat yourself on the back too hard.

I love blank statements like this... first off, your assuming that I haven't listened to the competition.. bold assumption and second your considering me an "audiophile"... well, I have spent about $1400 on audio equipment in the past year... (consisting mostly of headphones, soundcard..) so yes, I'd consider myself an audiophile (at the very least above the average consumer) since I do take my music listening pretty seriously...

next, you have no credit to back up your statements that x > y... I did very thorough research at the head-fi forums on the subject at hand since laying down ~$400 on a portable mp3 player isn't money you just throw away... and you know what I found? even pitted against the iaudio x5, many people favored the ipod.. sure there were some that favored the x5 due to an equalizer and things of that nature, but the ipod puts out a neutral sound... good for amping, since I do plan on buying a portable amp sometime in the near future...

buzzard34

10-04-2005, 08:05 PM

I love blank statements like this... first off, your assuming that I haven't listened to the competition.. bold assumption and second your considering me an "audiophile"... well, I have spent about $1400 on audio equipment in the past year... (consisting mostly of headphones, soundcard..) so yes, I'd consider myself an audiophile (at the very least above the average consumer) since I do take my music listening pretty seriously...

next, you have no credit to back up your statements that x > y... I did very thorough research at the head-fi forums on the subject at hand since laying down ~$400 on a portable mp3 player isn't money you just throw away... and you know what I found? even pitted against the iaudio x5, many people favored the ipod.. sure there were some that favored the x5 due to an equalizer and things of that nature, but the ipod puts out a neutral sound... good for amping, since I do plan on buying a portable amp sometime in the near future...
I do agree with ColStripe for making his statement however. Apple is not usually renowned as a leader in audio products compared to others such as Sony, Samsung, or even Creative. For chrissakes they started out as a COMPUTER company, not as a digital-audio-player manufacturer.

xonik

10-04-2005, 08:16 PM

That's a flimsy argument if I've ever seen one.

buzzard34

10-04-2005, 08:42 PM

That's a flimsy argument if I've ever seen one.
mine, colstripes or his

Project_2501

10-04-2005, 08:52 PM

Man, I hate you guys for showing me that Cowen player. I want one now... Looks so freaking sweet. :eek:

FaRKle0079

10-04-2005, 09:24 PM

having said that and having done many reviews, I still went with the 60 gig color ipod (being the audiophile) to go along with my er-4ps... yes I did know about the iaudio x5 and still went with the ipod..

I love blank statements like this... first off, your assuming that I haven't listened to the competition.. bold assumption and second your considering me an "audiophile"... well, I have spent about $1400 on audio equipment in the past year... (consisting mostly of headphones, soundcard..) so yes, I'd consider myself an audiophile (at the very least above the average consumer) since I do take my music listening pretty seriously...

next, you have no credit to back up your statements that x > y... I did very thorough research at the head-fi forums on the subject at hand since laying down ~$400 on a portable mp3 player isn't money you just throw away... and you know what I found? even pitted against the iaudio x5, many people favored the ipod.. sure there were some that favored the x5 due to an equalizer and things of that nature, but the ipod puts out a neutral sound... good for amping, since I do plan on buying a portable amp sometime in the near future...

ROFL! Sorry man, but if you did extensive research on Head-Fi you'd realize that most of us very much dislike the large bass roll-off on the ipods... I mean come on! Most head-fiers think the best ipods are the SHUFFLE and NANO. They have the best SQ and best output. Not weakass like the regular ipods. The nano is great if you get a protective covering. If you did "extensive research" on head-fi you'd also note that most head-fiers thinkthe iRiver H1xx series and the iAudio M3 and X5 have better SQ than the ipod.

Just because you spend $1400 on audio equipment doesn't mean its GOOD audio equipment, and it doesn't make you an audiophile. I hope you didn't buy a Audigy line sound card for your music...

BTW Here is his "research" on getting the ipod. He doesn't have many replies to his thread... http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=131990

unhappy_mage

10-04-2005, 09:44 PM

ROFL! Sorry man, but if you did extensive research on Head-Fi and have been there a while you'll realize that most of us very much dislike the large bass roll-off on the ipods... I mean come on!
I had heard that the earphones that come with the ipod have bass issues, but I don't remember this being an output problem, just a cheap earbuds problem.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072 (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=150072&tm=33)

FaRKle0079

10-04-2005, 10:41 PM

Nope its an output thing. The only way you're going to get decent audio out of an ipod is with the line out on the dock. Even with the dock its only marginally better than the shuffle and nano. For just straight out ability to drive high impendence headphones go Rio Karma. 50mw per channel and a 16hr li-ion batt!

And actually the ipod earbuds have more bass impact than his ER-4p's.

sniper991122

10-05-2005, 02:32 AM

ROFL! Sorry man, but if you did extensive research on Head-Fi you'd realize that most of us very much dislike the large bass roll-off on the ipods... I mean come on! Most head-fiers think the best ipods are the SHUFFLE and NANO. They have the best SQ and best output. Not weakass like the regular ipods. The nano is great if you get a protective covering. If you did "extensive research" on head-fi you'd also note that most head-fiers thinkthe iRiver H1xx series and the iAudio M3 and X5 have better SQ than the ipod.

Just because you spend $1400 on audio equipment doesn't mean its GOOD audio equipment, and it doesn't make you an audiophile. I hope you didn't buy a Audigy line sound card for your music...

BTW Here is his "research" on getting the ipod. He doesn't have many replies to his thread... http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=131990

im glad to see you posted my thread from head-fi... is this becoming something personal? But you know what I did after that thread? I took the advice of the first post and I did more research, because plenty of other people had posted... and yes, I did do extensive research...

alone, as it is the ipod doesn't have very good bass... with the ipods ear buds it has shitty bass... with my er-4ps is a more toned bass, but still not strong at all... with an amp.. im a lot better off... its still not like a good pair of cans, but for portable use...

also, if you notice the last post in that thread 'It a question that gets asked every other day. The reason the search results were inconclusive is because there is no conclusive answer.' every single statement he made, (which followed closely with my research) is that its a pretty neutral ground.. its up to the user...

hmmm that doesn't say the iaudio x5 is better does it? No, in fact, it says that there is no x > y (as i stated earlier)

it seems your encroaching the line of debating and flaming... im just stating from what I saw, and what I gathered from the people on head-fi and my research, and im sure showing the one thread I posted also shows every other thread that I read and gathered information from... anything else?

Jodiuh

10-05-2005, 04:20 AM

Man that's pretty shady bro. Surely there are other forums to mutilate and destroy with your time :D

To the original poster. It's gonna be a wild ride whatever you choose. I've found the best way to decide...is to go ahead and get the one your heart tells ya :p Then in a month or so when they release the player "yours" should have been, you can sell it. Or take it back if you're fortunate to buy from a "friendly store" such as Circuit City.

TheBlueChanell

10-05-2005, 06:46 PM

zachary80

10-05-2005, 11:21 PM

I've decided to wait and see about what comes of the 5th Gen Ipod. I read it was to be released within the next few weeks. So I've decided to take that 350 some and start my build. I'll get the case and shit first.

From what I have heard, the announcement next week is going to be mainly about the Video iPod. Not sure whether this will be considered the 5th gen or a new line (hopefully the second)

BBowermaster

10-06-2005, 08:15 AM

I like my Creative Nomad Zen Xtra. you save about 75 bucks on a comparable Ipod, you can replace its battery with utmost ease, and you get a product from a company who has been know for computer audio for at least 10 years.

Its funny, having said that, you'd think a company like Creative could do something as simple as installing a headphone jack properly, but nope, three models have all had known headphone jack problems (Zen Xtra, Zen Micro, and either the Zen Sleek or the Zen Touch, possibly both). All have either the left or right channel go out, then sound entirely as the headphone jack seperates from the board due to cheap, poor soldering. Creative's Quality control has gone down the crapper. Not to mention that virus that came packaged on the Zen Sleek, another example.

I was quite loyal to them, my first mp3 player was a Creative, and could forgive them once and chalk it up to design mistakes, but having the same problem on three generations of players, all manufactured several years apart, that's just a lack of quality. At least Apple has started to admit their faulty devices, such as replacing Nanos with cracked LCD screens, its time to see other companies do the same.

buzzard34

10-06-2005, 11:58 AM

Its funny, having said that, you'd think a company like Creative could do something as simple as installing a headphone jack properly, but nope, three models have all had known headphone jack problems (Zen Xtra, Zen Micro, and either the Zen Sleek or the Zen Touch, possibly both). All have either the left or right channel go out, then sound entirely as the headphone jack seperates from the board due to cheap, poor soldering. Creative's Quality control has gone down the crapper. Not to mention that virus that came packaged on the Zen Sleek, another example.

I was quite loyal to them, my first mp3 player was a Creative, and could forgive them once and chalk it up to design mistakes, but having the same problem on three generations of players, all manufactured several years apart, that's just a lack of quality. At least Apple has started to admit their faulty devices, such as replacing Nanos with cracked LCD screens, its time to see other companies do the same.
I'm pretty damn loyal to creative, partly because I refuse to buy something overpriced and "fashionable" to the masses from a company that is named after fruit.:D But yes I too have had trouble with me Zen Xtra